Wayne Green, professor emeritus of physics at Knox College and a former trustee at Carl Sandburg College, died Tuesday, October 27, 2015, in Galesburg Cottage Hospital. He was 91.

Green was born June 19, 1924, in Coldwater, Michigan, the son of Russell M. and Blanche (Beckwith) Green. He married Darlene M. Mills on June 16, 1956, in Galesburg. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1949 from Kalamazoo College and his Ph.D. in 1954 from Ohio State University. 

He moved to Galesburg in 1954 and began his 35-year career at Knox College, where he was a professor, chairman of the Department of Physics, registrar, and president of the Knox College Credit Union. In 1987, Green began hosting the Science Building Coffee Hour in the basement of the Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center, a tradition that lasted more than 20 years. 

"Professor Green combined a high dedication to teaching physics and graceful spirit of camaraderie with countless students and all his colleagues," then-Knox College Dean John Strassburger said upon Professor Green's retirement. "He also has been unstinting in working with high school teachers to promote physics."

Green served on the advisory committee for the State Board of Education in the area of science assessment, was a member and past president of the Illinois Community College Trustee Association and the Illinois Science Teachers Association, and was a member of the Illinois Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers.

He was a recipient of the Illinois Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers Distinguished Service Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Teaching; the Illinois Science Teachers Association Distinguished Service Award; and the Illinois Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers Distinguished Service Award. He was the director of the Prairieland Credit Union and was an Illinois Credit Union Hall of Fame inductee. Green was also instrumental in the Adult Education Reform Act HB1287 in 1996.

An active member of the Galesburg community, Green served as a member of and chairman of the board of trustees for Carl Sandburg College and held many offices with the Knox County United Way. In 2008, he received the Thomas B. Herring Community Service Award, which the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce gives each year to "an outstanding area citizen who has distinguished himself or herself through service to the community." He also served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945. 

Green is survived by his wife of 59 years, Darlene; two sons, David (and Kassie) Green of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Michael (and Megan) Green of Chicago; a daughter, Nancy Green of Chicago; six grandchildren, Kimberly (and Tanner), David (and Robin), Tyler, Samuel, Alexander, and Sonia; six great-grandchildren, Kiana, Caleb, Riley, Katie, Jaxson, and Logan; a brother, Gerald Green of Woodstock, Connecticut; and a nephew, Steve Green of Underhill, Vermont. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Galesburg First Presbyterian Church, Knox College Schulz Green Fund, or the Wayne and Darlene Green Foundation at the Galesburg Community Foundation. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.